Railway-car



No Model.)

J. MILTON.

RAILWAY GAR.

Patented Aug. 1, 1882.

WITNESSES: ZNVBNTOR: wfigzw w M670 m' i r ATTORNEYS.

PATENT rates.

JOHN MILTON, OF HAMILTON, VlItGINlA.

RAILWAY-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 262,085, dated August1, 1882.

(No model.)

the event of a collision.

To this end my invention consists in constructing each end of the carwith a corner, which is wholly independent of the frame-timbers of themain structure, but is fastened to the same, so as to fill out theproper outline of a car, and which, by being disconnected or displacedin the shockof a collision, allows the ends of the cars proper to wedgepast each other, instead of telescoping into each other, and thusavoiding the great loss of life and limb which results from the latter.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the floor-timbers of a car'constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig.2 is a horizontal section through thebody of the car; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the maintimbers of a carbody.

Referring to Fig. 1, X represents the carfloor structure, constructed asordinarily, except that the obliquely-opposite corners on opposite ends,as shown, are framed independently and attached to the main frame insuch manner as to fill all the usual requirements of a passenger-coach;but so that in case of a collision and tendency to telescope the saidcorners, by reason of their being weaker than the opposing side of thenextcar, will be broken off, and should they not have sufiicientstrength to destroy the momentum of the car, the oblique side orframe-work I K, comingin contact with the re-enforcedguard or fender Fon the opposite car, will divert the car from its course, and rendertelescoping impossible. The timbers I K, constituting the oblique sideor end of the main frame, are strongly fastened to the main frame, andthe corresponding timbers, A B, which are a part of the frame of thecorner, are bolted to the timbers I K in such manner as to affordsufficient strength for common use, but of just such strength as willgive way in the event ofa collision. The corner of the car, attached asshown, is supported vertically by the superstructure and by rods, asshown at O O and D D in Fig. 3. F and G, Fig. 1, are iron guards orfenders, made very heavy, strongly fastened into the bottom timbers ofthe car, and extending high enough above the platform to receive theforce of the colliding cars. The guard G may, however, not be necessary.These guards arebuilt in with the wooden frame-work to supplement itsstrength, but will not be seen, except where the flange extends a shortdistance inside of the doorway. These guards serve the additionalot'fice of preventing the dislodgment of the stove and danger from fire,or, at least, of affording greater strength to the part of the carinclosing the stove.

Fig. 2 gives a further idea of the construction. There should betwo-closets in each car, on opposite sides and ends, and theconnecting-line between the parts of the frame-work should passdiagonally through the closets, and thereby reduce to a minimum thechance of injury to any passenger in case of collision.

I do not confine myself to the diagonal line shown in my drawings, asthe lines may be varied considerably without loss, even to the dottedposition in Fig. 1, and possibly to some advantage; butwhateverlineisadopted should bisect the parts in front of the bolster ortrucks.

The draw-head and buffers are attached, as usual, far enough back toescape the weakened portion of the frame, and cannot in any way affectthe expected operation. I

The timbers L L, Fig. 1, may or may not be used; but when not used theirplace should be supplied by a different arrangement of the ordinarytimbers, so that one or more of them may be so placed as to hold theguards firmly.

I am aware that a passenger-car has been I made with a verticallywedge-shaped end to afford less resistance to the air and avoidtelescoping. In this construction the strong part of one car is exactlyopposite the strong part of the next adjacent car, while in myconstruction the strong part of one'car is opposite the weak part ordetachable corner ofthe next adae-ent car, which are the most. favorableconditions for the end I seek. I therefore only claim the car having ateach end a detachable corner section on one side of a longitudinal line,and the ordinary complete rectangular outline on the other side of thelongitudinal line at the same end.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. Apassenger-car having each end constructed with an independent detachableand weaker corner section on one side of a longi-

